By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers and wide receiver Jalen Coker agreed to terms Thursday night on a three-year, $35 million contract extension that will keep him with the team through 2019, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Panthers coach Dave Canales declared late last season that Coker, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross in 2024, would be the team’s starting wide receiver moving forward. Canales and the Panthers reaffirmed their commitment to him with the deal.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.
It’s rare when teams extend exclusive rights free agents, but the Panthers were convinced Coker is a valuable part of their future. He had 43 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns last season after missing the first month of the season with an injury. He came on strong toward the end of the year and eventually replaced Xavier Legette, Carolina’s first-round pick in 2024, in the starting lineup alongside Tetairoa McMillan, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Coker had a breakout performance in Carolina’s NFC wild-card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams with nine catches for 124 yards and a touchdown.
Coker didn’t receive much attention from top level Division I college programs coming out of high school and settled on attending Holy Cross. He promised his mother he would not transfer and would stick it out there and get his degree. He played four years at Holy Cross and caught 163 passes for 2,684 yards and a school-record 31 touchdowns.
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